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No. 6l4,994. Patented Nov. 29, I898. D. A. SELIGMAN.

E N V E L 0 P.

(Application filed Aug. 20, 199s.

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

ENVELO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,994, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed August 20, 1898. Serial No. 689,127. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID A. SELIGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in safety-envelops of that class in which the closing flap is provided with a tongue adapted to enter slits in the other flaps of the envelop, the said tongue bein g provided with hooks or bent portions that serve to prevent withdrawal of the tongue. Thus when once opened after being sealed the envelop cannot be resealed or closed without the first opening leaving its traces, and thus the receiver will know that the envelop has been tampered with.

The present invention pertains more particularly to envelops of this character in which the hooks or bent portions are provided with spring portions; and it has for its object to provide an envelop in which the spring portion is so disposed as to require the presence of but one, the same being formed upon the underbent portion and itself bent outwardly instead of inwardly and lying beneath and against the bent portion that is outermost, whereby its tendency is to always press the outer hook or bent portion outward and thus better serve its function and prevent removal of the tongue after it is once in position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by.

the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a View of a blank for an envelop embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale showing the envelop sealed or closed, a portion of the front being broken away to better show the manner in which the tongue performs its function. Fig. 3 is a view of the closing Help and its tongue with the hooks and spring partially open.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates an envelop of any desired shape and size and of usual construction, except as hereinafter specified.

The flap B is provided with a slit or slot 1), while the end flaps O and D are provided with the slits or slots 0 and 01, respectively, as seen clearly in Fig. 1. These slits or slots 0 and cl may be closed, as shown by full lines, or they may be open-ended, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the slits or slots 1), c, and d are so disposed with relation to each other as to come coincident with each other when the flaps are in the position they assume when the envelop is closed, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The flap E is gummed in the usual manner, as indicated in Fig. 1, and at the apex of this flap is a tongue F with a series of perforations f on the line between it and the flap. This tongue has the side extensions G and H, while the extension H has the addition I, as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and S. The extension G is designed to be folded upon the dotted line 9 to form a hook,while the extension His adapted to be folded along the line It to form a hook upon the opposite edge of the tongue. The addition I is to be folded upon the dotted line 1; to form a spring portion, which, when the tongue is made ready to be inserted in the slits of the flaps, lies coincident with the hook formed by the extension G and between the same and the hook formed by the extension H and serves to spread out the hooks in a manner which will be readily understood. Fig. 3 gives perhaps the best understanding of this feature.

The tongue may or may not be gummed on the face adjacent to the back of the front of the envelop, so that when moistened and placed in the slits of the flaps it will adhere to the said back of the front of the envelop.

From the foregoing description,when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, the manner of using the envelop and the benefits arising therefrom will be readily understood, as when once opened such fact is readily ap parent.

No attempt to reseal the envelop ICO will conceal the fact that it has been once opened, as either the line of perforations f must be severed, leaving the tongue within the envelop or the tongue forcibly pulled from the under side of the front, in which latter case, owing to its attachment by the mueilage thereon and the hook-shaped character of the portions G and II and the pressingof the same outward by the spring portion I there would be a tearing of the envelop, which would readily indicate that the envelop had been tampered with.

As will be apparent, this envelop can be constructed at almost the same cost as the ordinary safety-envelop and yet at the same time possessing advantages of great value as a safety-envelop.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. A safety-envelop comprising a body portion with the flaps with coincident slots, a flap B with a slot, and a flap upon the opposite side of the body portion formed with a tongue having side extensions with shoulders at their inner ends and their outer ends upon inclined lines, said extensions being adapted to be folded upon oppositely-inclined lines to form hooks, and one of the extensions formed with an integral portion bent outwardly to constitute a spring portion which bears directly against the under side of the other hook, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an improved article of manufacture the safety-envelop herein described consisting of a body portion with end flaps with slots, a flap B with a slot, and a flap upon the opposite edge of the body portion formed with an integral tongue provided at its junction with the body portion with perforations, the tongue being formed with side extensions with parallel outer edges and adapted to be folded upon oppositely-inclined lines converging toward the outer end of the tongue, forming shoulders at the inner ends of the extensions, the outer end of one of the said extensions being inclined and the other formed with an integral spring portion bent outward upon an inclined line and bearing directly against the under side of the other extension which is folded thereover, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. SELIGMAN.

\Vitnesses:

MAX HOFFMAN, Sent 3'. lmnnnn. 

